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Cross-cutting development education into technology studies in Barcelona

This project aims to provide a regional focus of the European GDEE initiative (GLOBAL DIMENSION IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION “GDEE” - Cross-cutting development education into technology studies)on the Municipality of Barcelona. The specific objective is two-fold. On one hand, the aim is to adapt part of the GDEE teaching materials to the Catalan context, in order to engage academic staff from local universities. In addition, it also aims to bring the GDEE approaches closer to secondary school teachers in the field of technology, while promoting synergies between teachers from secondary and university level.

The main activities include i) the adaptation of teaching materials; ii) the development of two blended-learning courses - one for university-based staff and another one for secondary school teachers -; and iii) the implementation of workshops that bring together researchers from universities and practitioners from NGOs.

Scope: Local

Collaborating Institutions: School for a Culture of Peace, Cesire-Aulatec

Led by: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Funded by: Municipality of Barcelona .

Call: Barcelona Solidària 2013

Principal Investigator (PI): Agustí Pérez Foguet

Start date: 01.10.2013.

Estimated date of completion: 31.12.2014

GLOBAL DIMENSION IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION “GDEE” - Cross-cutting development education into technology studies

The Global Dimension in Engineering Education -GDEE- is an initiative that aims to increase the awareness, critical understanding and attitudinal values of undergraduates and postgraduates students in technical universities related to Sustainable Human Development (SHD) and its relationship with technology. This is being dealt with by integrating SHD as cross-cutting issue in teaching activities by improving the competences of academics and through engaging both staff and students in initiatives related to SHD.

The expected results are:

To increase competences of academic staff to integrate SHD as cross-cutting issue in teaching.
To create a network of academics for promoting the integration of SHD into technology studies.
To facilitate the connection between theoretical knowledge (lecturers and students from universities) with practice (through NGOs).

To achieve such outcomes, GDEE will

produce and spread teaching materials,
train teachers in SHD integration,
promote networking among them, and
link academics with NGOs through formal and non-formal actions at universities.

Scope: International.
Partners:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain), Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), Università degli Studi di Trento (Italy), Loughborough University (United Kingdom), ONGAWA (Spain), Training Centre for International Cooperation (Italy), Practical Action (United Kingdom), Engineers without Borders (United Kingdom).

Led by: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Funded by: EuropeAid.

Call: Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development - Raising public awareness of development issues and promoting development education in the European Union (EuropeAid/131141/C/ACT/MULTI).

Contract: DCI-NSAED/2012/280-929

Principal Investigator (PI): Agustí Pérez Foguet

Start date: 01.02.2013.

Estimated date of completion: 31.01.2015

Website: http://gdee.eu/

Andean Network of Graduate Studies in Integrated Water Resources (RAP-GIRH)

This project has identified the growing need for professionals to have an integrated approach to water management, interdisciplinary and regional guidance. The project aims to develop graduate programs with an innovative learning methodology, with a link with the labor, business and public, and methods that promote applied research and a permanent network of exchange and cooperation inter-university. Among others, include the following objectives:

Strengthen educational programs on sustainability tools and mechanisms that promote active learning based on analysis of current social problems.

To promote educational programs and research across the UPC considering the mass of water ecosystems as life support, beyond consideration as an economic resource and water planning.

Promote partnerships with institutions (academic and non academic) working in the field of sustainability and cooperation.

Scope: International.
Partners: Wageningen University & Research centre (Holland), Universidad Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia), Universidad del Valle (Colombia), Universidad Central del Ecuador (Ecuador), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru), Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo (Peru) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain).

Led by: Wageningen University & Research centre.
Funded by: EuropeAid.
Start date: 01.04.2012. Estimated date of completion: 01.04.2015.
Principal Investigator (PI): Núria Miralles

Establishing Modern Master-level Studies in Industrial Ecology (IEMAST)

The project aims to create a Master program that prepares engineers able to work on the design of technological systems, industrial and urban, industrial processes and consumer products, taking into account environmental problems and social and economic constraints in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Scope: International.
University-partners: KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, TU Delft, Qafqaz University, National Aviation Academy, Belarussian National Technical University, Mogilev State University of Food Technologies, Baranovich State University, Kazakh National Technical University, Caspian State University of Technology and Engineering, Atyrau Institute of Oil and Gas, National Technical University of Ukraine “Kiev Polytechnic Institute”, Chernihiv State Technological University
Society partners: National Agency for Higher Education, Sweden, Association of power efficient engineering of Ukraine, Kazphosphate LLC, Baku City Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Institute for Nature Management, National Academy of Science, Belarus

Led by: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Funding agency: EACEA
Contract number: 2-517346-TEMPUSIEMAST
Number of Agreement: 2011-2537
Project number: 517346

Project responsible: Olga Kordas (KTH), Jordi Segalàs at UPC.

Start date: 15-10-2011

Estimated date of completion: 14-10-2014

Training Courses for Public Services in Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Western Balkans (SDTRAIN)

The project is designed to establish system for training of public authorities aimed at improving level of environmental expertise, facilitating good governance and sustainable infrastructure development in Western Balkan countries. To meet this overall objective, the project team will develop training programme for capacity building of the staff of public authorities in sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiency and good governance at partner Universities, that will be pilot in cooperation with EU teachers in BiH, Montenegro and Serbia; Key partner Universities teachers capacities in providing training in sustainable public infrastructure, will be improved at EU universities through retraining. A web-based toolkit will be developed as an interactive learning environment for training of public authorities. The project will ensure continuity of the training Programme and the web toolkit beyond Tempus Programme funding.

Led by: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

Funding agency: EACEA
Contract number: 2-TEMPUS 530530-SDTRAIN
Number of Agreement: 2012-3006
Project number: 530530

Project responsible: Olga Kordas (KTH), Jordi Segalàs at UPC.

Start date: 15-10-2011

Estimated date of completion: 14-10-2014

Erasmus Intensive Program: International Seminar on Sustainable Technology Development (STD)

The International Seminar on Sustainable Technological Development is a way of exchanging knowledge and information about an annual topic within the field of sustainability. It will be developed during two weeks and conducted by professors from different European universities experts on future studies analysis (TUDelft, Chalmers UT, KTH, TUGraz among others). The constructive-learning activities will be focused on the connections between technology development, environmental problems and societal change. The seminar will develop case studies, round tables, practical visits, and others.

The specific project goals will be:

To increase the understanding of Sustainability in the long term and the role of technology therein embedded in systems
To increase the capability to apply foresighting, forecasting and backcasting
To contribute to the development of scientific work competences of students
To increase the capability of teachers to teach the approach of future imaging, foresighting, forecasting and backcasting
To equip UPC with insight and capability to transfer knowledge on future imaging and backcasting for sustainable development in the Masters in SD and further in Catalonia and Spain
To become an experts meeting point and create networking activities among different groups and institution

University-partners: KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, TU Delft, Chalmers University, Graz TU, Maribor University.

Funding agency: OAPEE-Unidad de Educación Superior 2012-1-ES1-ERA10-54367
Contract number: 2-ERA10-54367
Number of Agreement: 2012-1-ES1-ERA10-54367
Start date: 2011

Estimated date of completion: 2014

Contact persons: Jordi Segalàs, Gemma Tejedor
Further information:

http://is.upc.edu/seminaris-i-jornades/seminaris/international-seminar-std
http://is.upc.edu/seminaris-i-jornades/seminaris/std-2013

Creation of third cycle studies - Doctoral Programme in Renewable Energy and Environmental Technology (CREDO)

This project is designed to advance capacity in education, research, exploitation of knowledge and innovation in the area of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Technology in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan through structured and integrated cooperation with European Universities within framework of joint Doctorate Program in this field. To reach this goal Project consortium will introduce advanced Bologna-compliant Doctorate Program in the area of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Technology at seven partner Universities, the project team will pilot joint PhD courses and provide co-supervision of the doctoral thesis as the initial stage on the way to introduction of the Joint Doctorate Program among the project partners.

Scope: International.
University-partners: KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, University of Sarajevo, University of Banja Luka, KSUCTA, Osh Technological University, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, TU Delft, TUT, Technical University of Moldova, State Agrarian University of Moldova, NTUU “KPI”, National University of Water Management & Natures Resources Use
Society partners: National Agency for Higher Education (Sweden), European Energy Company (Ukraine), National Association for Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources (Moldova), Chamber of Economy of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ministry of Education and Science (Kyrgyzstan), Kyrgyzhouscommunonion under Ministry of Energy (Kyrgyzstan), Kyrgyz Scientific-Technical Centre "Energy“ (Kyrgyzstan)

Funding agency: EACEA

Contract number: CREDO510952

Number of Agreement: 2010-3361

Project number: 510952

Project responsible: Olga Kordas (KTH), Jordi Segalàs at UPC.

Start date: 15-10-2010

Estimated date of completion: 14-10-2013

Finished

Map of Continuous Training degrees at UPC in the area of Sustainability

The UPC’s Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya (FPC) offers postgraduate continuing education in the UPC’s areas of expertise. Its courses are designed for professionals who wish to specialise, to update and extend their education, or to strengthen their leadership and management skills. These specialisation and professional development courses aim to meet the needs of the labour market and industry.

To consolidate its provision of appropriate, high-quality courses, the FPC must revise and re-plan the range of programmes that it currently offers. The present project aims to analyse the courses that are being taught in the field of sustainability. This analysis should reveal any gaps and overlaps with a view to establishing a complete qualifications map that is well suited to the professional context of Catalonia. The methodology proposed involves identifying the educational needs of professionals and evaluating trends in related sectors. Subsequently, the full range of continuing education courses taught at the FPC will be analysed. The final result of this analysis will be a proposal for a set of education programmes to be developed in the coming academic years.

Scope: Local.
Signed with: Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya.
Start Date: 01.10.2010. Estimated date of completion: 01.03.2011.
Principal Investigator (PI): Alejandro Josa